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* ''Series/ChoujinBibyun'': It eventually turns out that the "[[MaouTheDemonKing Great Demon King Gulver]]" is actually a duo, with one being a DecoyLeader who publicly plays the part and the other being the real Gulver who pulls the strings in secret and whose true form isn't revealed until the final episode.
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* ''VideoGame/TheSakabashiraGame'' makes it clear from the outset that [[EldritchAbomination the eldritch host]] is behind the titular game, and of [[TheMole the two traitors aligned with them in the group]], [[spoiler:Evan]] is openly hostile to everyone from the outset. The other traitor, [[spoiler:Ceci]], isn't exposed until the very end of the game, and overall does a better job at appearing friendly.
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Failed attempts are YMMV, not allowed under non-YMMV pages.
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* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' is meant to have this mechanic, with Yuga the obvious villain from the start and Hilda the hidden mastermind. However, it drops a few too many hints that Hilda's in on the plot (particularly Yuga mentioning "Her Grace" in his first appearance), so by the time she reveals her intentions, [[CaptainObviousReveal it's not very surprising]].
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* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' is meant to have this mechanic, with ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'': Yuga the obvious villain from the start and Hilda the hidden mastermind. However, it drops a few too many hints that Hilda's in on the plot (particularly Yuga mentioning "Her Grace" in his first appearance), so by the time she reveals her intentions, [[CaptainObviousReveal it's not very surprising]].mastermind.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': [[TheRival Randall]] is set up early on as the main villain, being the one behind Boo's kidnapping and [[DrivenByEnvy driven by his jealousy of Sully and Mike]]. So it comes as a surprise when it turns out that he's actually working for [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Waternoose, the Monsters Inc. CEO]] and Sully's biggest supporter, who [[WellIntentionedExtremist intends to use Randall's Scream Extractor to bring an end to Monstropolis' energy crisis]].
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* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc1'': [[TheRival Randall]] is set up early on as the main villain, being the one behind Boo's kidnapping and [[DrivenByEnvy driven by his jealousy of Sully and Mike]]. So it comes as a surprise when it turns out that he's actually working for [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Waternoose, the Monsters Inc. CEO]] and Sully's biggest supporter, who [[WellIntentionedExtremist intends to use Randall's Scream Extractor to bring an end to Monstropolis' energy crisis]].
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* ''Film/HotFuzz'': Exploited. Simon Skinner is introduced as the main suspect behind mysterious deaths happening within the town, passing by the crime scenes while driving menacingly and playing SurprisinglyAproposMusic. However, it turns out he is the decoy to take the heat, and only one of ''many'' in the BigBadEnsemble, with Chief Frank Butterman being their leader.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Season 8 features Chancellor Neighsay, who is not only an obvious CorruptBureaucrat, but [[FantasticRacism believes non-ponies aren't capable of friendship and shouldn't be taught at Twilight's school.]] Come the finale, the real BigBad of the season is [[EnfantTerrible Cozy Glow]], who wanted to amass magical power for herself. Neighsay ends up having a HeelRealization and becoming TheAtoner.
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* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Season 8 features Chancellor Neighsay, who is not only an obvious CorruptBureaucrat, but [[FantasticRacism believes non-ponies aren't capable of friendship and shouldn't be taught at Twilight's school.]] Come the finale, the real BigBad of the season is [[EnfantTerrible [[Characters/FriendshipIsMagicCozyGlow Cozy Glow]], who wanted to amass magical power for herself. Neighsay ends up having a HeelRealization and becoming TheAtoner.
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** [[Characters/TotalDramaJulia Julia]] in Total Drama Island (2023) is The Obvious Villain to Bowie and MK's Secret Villains as her openly hostile, mean-girl attitude and high competence in challenges make her the biggest target for elimination, allowing the other two to work behind the scenes and enact their schemes.
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** Max in ''Pahkitew Island'' openly brags about how evil he is and openly schemes his grand diabolical plans. Max turns out to be a BigBadWannabe, as the real villain turns out to be Scarlett, who is revealed to be an AxCrazy [[TheSociopath Sociopath]] that wants to blow up the Island unless she gets the million dollars.
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** Max in ''Pahkitew Island'' openly brags about how evil he is and openly schemes his grand diabolical plans. Max turns out to be a BigBadWannabe, as the real villain turns out to be Scarlett, who is revealed to be an AxCrazy [[TheSociopath Sociopath]] that wants to blow up the Island unless she gets the million dollars. Again, neither end up being the final villain of the season, with FatBitch Sugar taking the role instead.
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* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': Alan Jonah was set up to be a clear and direct antagonist from the first chapter, as the unrepentant monster from canon who's holding San's head and Vivienne's fusing body captive, but the true BigBad [[spoiler:turning out to be a resurrecting Ghidorah was probably quite a surprise]].
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* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': Alan Jonah was set up to be a clear and direct antagonist from the first chapter, as the unrepentant monster from canon who's holding San's head and Vivienne's fusing body captive, but the true BigBad [[spoiler:turning turning out to be a resurrecting Ghidorah was probably quite a surprise]].
surprise.
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* ''Franchise/KamenRider'': A pretty common setup for villains, particularly in the Showa era.
** The [[BigBad Great Leader]] usually has this relationship with his CoDragons, who takes turns acting as the Obvious Villain and TheHeavy while the Great Leader plays the Secret Villain, giving orders to them as an [[UnseenEvil omnipresent voice]].
** ''Series/KamenRiderX'': The Obvious Villain is Apollo Geist, [[TheConspiracy GOD]]'s "[[ProfessionalKiller Chief of Security]]", while the [[NoOneSeesTheBoss GOD General Commander]] is the Secret Villain, leaving tape recordings that contain his orders for his minions.
** ''Series/KamenRiderAmazon'': In the second half, Zero the Great is the head of the Garanda Empire and the Obvious Villain, while his unseen master "Ruler" is the Secret Villain.
** ''Series/KamenRiderBlack'': The Three High Priests and Shadow Moon take turns playing the Obvious Villain, while the Creation King looms in the background as the Secret Villain and doesn't even appear until the finale.
** ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'': La-Balva-De is the Obvious Villain, serving as the "judge" of the Gurongi game in place of her master, N-Daguva-Zeba, the Secret Villain who doesn't show up until the finale.
** ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' inverts the usual setup of this trope, with the BigBad Mitsuaki Gamou being the Obvious Villain whose identity is known (to the viewer) from the start, while his subordinates, the Scorpion, Libra and Virgo Zodiarts have their true identities concealed until later in the show.
** ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'': The [[CoDragons Greater Phantoms]] are the Obvious Villains, while their master Wiseman is the Secret Villain whose true identity isn't revealed until late into the show.
** ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' has the duo of Heart (as well as the other Roidmude executives) and Freeze. Heart is visible from the very start of the show, while Freeze is deep undercover and spends most of the show behind the scenes until his public identity is revealed.
** The [[BigBad Great Leader]] usually has this relationship with his CoDragons, who takes turns acting as the Obvious Villain and TheHeavy while the Great Leader plays the Secret Villain, giving orders to them as an [[UnseenEvil omnipresent voice]].
** ''Series/KamenRiderX'': The Obvious Villain is Apollo Geist, [[TheConspiracy GOD]]'s "[[ProfessionalKiller Chief of Security]]", while the [[NoOneSeesTheBoss GOD General Commander]] is the Secret Villain, leaving tape recordings that contain his orders for his minions.
** ''Series/KamenRiderAmazon'': In the second half, Zero the Great is the head of the Garanda Empire and the Obvious Villain, while his unseen master "Ruler" is the Secret Villain.
** ''Series/KamenRiderBlack'': The Three High Priests and Shadow Moon take turns playing the Obvious Villain, while the Creation King looms in the background as the Secret Villain and doesn't even appear until the finale.
** ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'': La-Balva-De is the Obvious Villain, serving as the "judge" of the Gurongi game in place of her master, N-Daguva-Zeba, the Secret Villain who doesn't show up until the finale.
** ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' inverts the usual setup of this trope, with the BigBad Mitsuaki Gamou being the Obvious Villain whose identity is known (to the viewer) from the start, while his subordinates, the Scorpion, Libra and Virgo Zodiarts have their true identities concealed until later in the show.
** ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'': The [[CoDragons Greater Phantoms]] are the Obvious Villains, while their master Wiseman is the Secret Villain whose true identity isn't revealed until late into the show.
** ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' has the duo of Heart (as well as the other Roidmude executives) and Freeze. Heart is visible from the very start of the show, while Freeze is deep undercover and spends most of the show behind the scenes until his public identity is revealed.
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* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'': Sir Grodus and the X-Nauts are the Obvious Villains for most of the game, while the Shadow Queen is the Secret SealedEvilInACan they're working to unseal.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': Count Bleck is presented as the BigBad from the very start of the game, being the one who summoned the Chaos Heart and set the plot off, but there's also a twist villain in [[EnigmaticMinion Dimentio]], who was plotting throughout the entire game to [[TheStarscream usurp him as the Chaos Heart's controller]] and ultimately becomes the FinalBoss.
** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime'': The Princess Shroob is the obvious main villain for most of the game, while her older sister (who was sealed in the Cobalt Star) is the secret villain who isn't revealed until the end.
** ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'': Sir Grodus and the X-Nauts are the Obvious Villains for most of the game, while the Shadow Queen is the Secret SealedEvilInACan they're working to unseal.
** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': Count Bleck is presented as the BigBad from the very start of the game, being the one who summoned the Chaos Heart and set the plot off, but there's also a twist villain in [[EnigmaticMinion Dimentio]], who was plotting throughout the entire game to [[TheStarscream usurp him as the Chaos Heart's controller]] and ultimately becomes the FinalBoss.
** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime'': The Princess Shroob is the obvious main villain for most of the game, while her older sister (who was sealed in the Cobalt Star) is the secret villain who isn't revealed until the end.
